Rickey Henderson is considered one of the greatest leadoff hitters and base stealers in Major League Baseball history. As a result, his baseball cards are highly coveted by collectors.

Let’s first examine Henderson’s rookie cards from 1979. His true rookie card is from 1979 Topps and is one of the key rookie cards from the 1970s/1980s era. In near-mint to mint condition, Henderson’s 1979 Topps rookie card typically sells for between $100-300. A true gem mint PSA 10 grade copy has sold for over $1,000 before.

Henderson also has a desirable 1979 Donruss rookie card. This card typically sells for $50-150 in NM-MT condition. Again, high-grade PSA 10 copies can reach $500-1000+. Other notable 1979 rookies include issues from Fleer, Red Sox Minor League, and Score. These variants usually retail for $20-75 each.

Moving into the 1980s, Henderson had many valuable cards as he established himself as a star. His 1981 Topps, 1983 Donruss, and 1986 Topps cards are some of his most prolific issues from that decade. Graded PSA 10 copies of the 1981 Topps card recently sold for around $250-350. Meanwhile, pristine 1983 Donruss and 1986 Topps gems have reached $500+ at auction. Other 1980s Henderson issues like his 1984 and 1985 Donruss, 1987 Topps Traded, and 1989 Upper Deck cards often sell in the $50-150 range depending on condition.

Henderson remained a star player well into the 1990s decade. Thus, his early 1990s cards retain solid demand and value as well. For example, PSA 10 versions of his 1990 Upper Deck, 1991 Topps Traded, and 1992 Topps Traded signatures cards have sold for $200-500 each. Meanwhile, raw NM-MT copies trade hands for $50-150. Later 1990s Henderson cards from brands like Finest, Studio, and Ultimate tend to sell in the $10-50 range raw.

One of Henderson’s most iconic and valuable card issues spans from 2001-2002. This was when Topps produced special “30th Anniversary” subsets honoring Henderson’s prolific career. The 2001 Topps 30th Anniversary refractor parallel and 2002 Topps Heritage anniversary rainbow foil parallel are both key Henderson cards. High-grade PSA/BGS copies regularly attract bids over $1,000 on the secondary market due to their low print runs and popularity with collectors.

In summary, Rickey Henderson’s greatest card values stem from his 1979 and early 1980s rookie issues as well as special inserts produced in the 2000s commemorating his career. But collectors prize his cards from most eras due to his status as a true baseball legend. Condition is critical, as high-grade PSA/BGS slabs consistently sell for the highest prices. While common issues are accessible affordable, the rarest Henderson cards continue escalating in value over time as one of the most collectible players from the 1980s-1990s era.

In conclusion, Rickey Henderson enjoyed a Hall of Fame baseball career and his cards are highly sought after as a result. While more common issues can be obtained for under $100, his rarest and highest graded gems have realized prices upwards of $1000-1500. As long as Henderson remains respected as one of the game’s all-time greats, demand should stay strong for his collectibles across all vintages and variations.